Man Electrocuted In Fairfield

[Henry]

Vermont has recorded at least its second ice-storm related death after a Richmond man died from possible electrocution trying to clear ice from a home in Franklin County, state police said Monday.

Harold “Pete” Gosselin, 48, was killed attempting to clear ice at his father-inlaw’s home on St. Pierre Road in Fairfield about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, officials said.

State Police Capt. Paul White said indications suggested Gosselin was standing on an aluminum ladder with an aluminum rake when it made contact with a live wire.

White said the early report showed the victim’s wife and son were present. The man was takento Northwest MedicalCenter in St. Albans, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

The state police detective assigned to the case could not be reached for comment on Monday.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Gosselin is planned at 1 p.m. Friday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Richmond, Eric Haney of Gifford Funeral Home said. Visiting hours for Gosselin at the Gifford Funeral Home are planned 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday.

The first storm-related death involved Mitchel Rowell, 60, of Albany, who was found dead Dec. 23 from carbon monoxide poisoning at his home.

Rowell ran a generator indoors, according to state police and Dr. Stephen L. Shapiro, Vermont’s chief medical examiner. State Police Detective Sgt. Fred Cornell said the death was an accident.

Rowell was had been running a generator in a closed garage due to a power outage during a weekend ice storm, Cornell said. The garage and house are attached. Cornell said Rowell's wife also was in the home, but the dangerous fumes did not have the same impact on her.

State police have urged Vermonters to refrain from running generators indoors because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can cause death or injuries.

Contact Mike Donoghue at 660-1845 or mdonoghue@burlingtonfreepress.com.

[khort]

Just to note for those who may know her, Mr. Gosselins wife Jeanne Therrien Gosselin, was a BFA Fairfax 1986 graduate. Her father, Real Therrien was also a resident of Fairfax years ago. My thoughts & prayers go out to Jeanne, her children & all of her family during this difficult time.

[Henry]

STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
VERMONT STATE POLICE

PRESS RELEASE
Death Investigation in Fairfield, VT

Detective Sergeant Edward Meslin, St. Albans Barracks, 802-524-5993

Fairfield, VT - 12/31/13 - On December 29, 2013 at approximately 1:39PM, the Vermont State Police received a call from Northwest Medical Center regarding a patient that died of an apparent electrical shock. The decedent, Harold Gosselin age 48 of Jonesville, taken by AMCARE to the hospital from a residence on Saint Pierre Road Fairfield, Vermont. Detectives from the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation were dispatched to investigate the incident.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives learned that approximately 12:45PM on December 29, Gosselin was clearing the roof of a residence on Saint Pierre Rd. in Fairfield. Gosselin was using a snow rake with an aluminum handle, while standing on an aluminum ladder. Approximately 13-14 feet behind Gosselin was an overhead wire, that supplied electricity to the residence. During the course of clearing the roof the handle end of the rake came into contact with the wire while the aluminum rake end came into contact with the aluminum ladder. Gosselin received a shock and fell off the ladder.

The decedent was transported to the Vermont Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for autopsy. The investigation is on-going, however at this time there is no evidence of foul play and the death is considered accidental.

CASE#: 13A205790

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Stephanie Dasaro | Vermont State Police - Public Information Officer
103 South Main Street | Waterbury, Vermont 05671
stephanie.dasaro@state.vt.us<mailto:stephanie.dasaro@state.vt.us> | 802-241-5277 (desk) | 802-279-9773 (cell)